Brake beam support



Aug. 17, 1948. D. s. BARROWS BRAKE BEAM SUPPORT 2 Sl'leets-Sheet l wv mv @21% K Filed Jan. l5, 1945 00A/m0 .S 51e/M0146 am fm, v

mui# Aug. 17, 1948. D. s. BARRows BRAKE BEAM SUPPORT 2 sheet-sheet 2 Filed Jan. 15, 1945 Patented Aug. 17, 1948 BRAKE BEAM SUPPORT Donald S. Barrows, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to The Symington-Gould Corporation, Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of Maryland Application January 15, 1945, SerialNo. 572,894 1': claims. (ci. rss- 190) The invention pertainsto a brake beam support and more particularly to a compensating type thereof.

A broad object of the invention is the provision oi a member comprising a support for brake beams and being movably carried by a side frame, the latter of which is arranged to travel vertically relative to associated journal boxes.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a member forming a support for brake beams and being carried by a side frame with means connecting the member to journal boxes in such a manner as to maintain the member in a xed position relative' to the journal boxes while the side frame is arranged to move vertically relative to the journal boxes.

The above, as well as numerous other objects `will become apparent from the accompanying drawings, considered in conjunction with the :succeeding detailed description. Reference is now made generally to the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a portion of a railway truck embodying a form of the present invention.

Figure 2' is a plan View of the structure illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical cross sectional View taken :along the lines 3 3 of Figure l, looking in the `direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a perspective View of a member 'forming guideways for brake beams.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, wherein, throughout the several views, like reference characters indicate lillel parts, the numeral l is employed to designate, in a somewhat general manner', a railway car truck. The railway truck comprises a pair of side frames 2, only a portion of one of which is illustrated in the drawings because it is commonly known that a railway truck comprises two side frames spaced transversely oi the truck and extending longitudinally thereof. The side frames are tied together intermediate their ends by a load-carrying member or transversely extending bolster 3 having an end portion i disposedv in a window 5 of the side frame to be there interlocked with the side frame and to transmit the load of a car body (not shown) to the frames. The railway truck with which the present invention is particularly adaptable is the type thereof wherein the side frames are resiliently supported and, accordingly, the vertical disposition of an individual side frame is changing continually in running service and also during the loading and unloading of the car body. As illustrative of the type of railway car truck hereinabove discussed, there is shown a journal box i? positioned adjacent each end of a side frame and forming a housing for bearings (not shown)y of any type and which afford a free running movement oi' a wheel and axle vassembly T. Each journal box disposed' between spaced jaws 8 of the side frame adjacent an end thereof' may have outstanding ltherefrom wings or shelvesI 9 withl the jaws forming container-sorhousings for resilient means 9c the latter of which are interposed be'-4 tween the side frame and journal box shelves to thereby present a flexible or resilient support for the side frame. This described structure of journal boxy mounting may be as illustrated, described and claimed in United States Patent No; 2,297,863, grantedOctober 6', 1942, to D. S. Barrows et al. In this type oi railway truck, because oi the presence of the flexible or resilient support, an considered together with the fact that the vertical disposition oi the axis of' a wheel and axle assembly remains constantl with respect tof a supporting rail throughout all serv-` ice truck.' movements, the vertical relationship between the side frame' and wheel' and axle assembly is subjected to variation.

The mostv commonly employed means to impede the progress of' a railway car or retain a railway car ina predetermined position is a component of the railway truck, namely a brake beam which is designated, throughout the several views of the drawings, by thereierence character l0. The brake beam extends horizontally or transversely of the truck' Vand has lassociated therewith, adjacent its extremities, brake shoe heads and replaceable brake shoes Il arranged to Contact wheels of' a wheel and axle assembly.

For reasons thatl are apparent to those skilled in the art and need not be herein enumerated, an ideal condition is attained when the brake beam, though supported by' a side frame, is maintained' at a predetermined elevation so that, irrespective of any vertical variation between the side frame and wheel and axle assembly, the brake beam will at all times travel along a fixed and definite pathduring an application or release action of the brakes. Toward the attainment of theabove ideal condition, there is provided ai brakebeam carrier or support I'2` desirably-l of cast form but, as will be appreciated, may be formed as 'a' fabricated component. The in'- stant structure is' concerned primarily withv the type of brake beam having an extension f3 of elongated crossv sectional congu'ration and which projects outwardly of the truck from a related brake head in' contrast to the type thereof employing a pivotal or swing hanger suspended from a jaw formed integral with the side frame and interlocked with the brake head. The brake beam support extends longitudinally of the truck between wheel and axle assemblies and below or adjacent to the inner edge of the side frame. Preferably the brake beam support :comprises an intermediate bridge or spacer portion I4 having an upper horizontal top web l5 with depending, transversely spaced, vertical Webs I6 to thus present an inverted U-shape in cross section. It will be clearly understood, however, that the cross sectional configuration of the intermediate portion may be of any rigid, desired or optional design, just so long as it is capable of performing the function for which it is intended, hereinafter made apparent. Formed at each end of the top web is a guideway il defined in part by a bottom or lower wall I8, the latter of which in eiilect, tforms a continuation of the top web). Spabed a predetermined distance above each lower wall and desirably parallel therewith, is a top or upper wall I9 defining the upper limits of the related guideway and having one end thereof connected integrally to the associated end of the bottom wall through the medium of an end wall 20. An inner web |6a of the intermediater portion webs merges into the bottom walls in underlying relation thereto while the outer web lGb of these webs extends through the plane of the bottom walls to merge with the top and end walls and thus not only form rigidifying tie means but also present side walls 2l of the guideways closing the outer limits thereof. The brake beam support is thus made as an integral, rigid member with brake beam guideways at each end thereof in the proximity of wheels of the wheel and axle assemblies with the guideways opening transversely or inwardly of the truck for the accommodation of the brake beam extensions I3 and also opening toward one another so that the brake beam may, if desired, be introduced into the guideways through these latter mentioned openings. Associated with each guideway is a substantially channel-shaped wear plate 22 secured to the top and bottom walls by means of the illustrated welds or any other desired means. From long and established practice, brake beams are most usually disposed below a horizontal plane bisecting the axis of the wheel and axle assembly and arranged so as to move along a path which, if extended, bisects the axis of the wheel and axle assembly so that the included angle between the extended path and a horizontal plane above mentioned will approximate 12 degrees. Accordingly, each guideway is inclined or disposed upwardly and outwardly or longitudinally of the truck so that the brake beam will travel, during application and release of the brakes, along a path which, if projected, will intersect the axis of the wheel and axle assembly.

As previously implied, means has been incorporated in the truck to maintain the guideways in a fixed position and, as exemplary of such a means, there is provided adjacent each side of the bolster opening and near the lower limits thereof a lever means 23. Each lever means desirably comprises an inner arm 24 positioned inwardly of the truck from a related side frame .and inclined downwardly and toward an associated end of the side frame away from the bolster opening. The free end of each inner arm is formed as an apertured boss 25 which fits between apertured hinging lugs 26, the latter opstanding from a top wall of a guideway. A,

pin 21 locked in place by a cotter 21a extends through the hinging lugs and boss to pivotally connect each inner arm to an extremity of the guideway member. Because, as hereinafter pointed out in more detail, the inner arm is also pivotally mounted, an aperture of one of the bosses is desirably elongated as at 28 in order to eliminate a binding action during service movements of the side frame. Forming an intermediate portion of each lever means is a shaft 29 projecting outwardly or transversely of the trulck from one end of an inner arm as an integral part thereof, Each shaft is desirably of circular cross section to be journaled in and carried by the side frame so as to pivot relative thereto and terminates beyond the side frame as a squared extension 30. Mounted upon each squared shaft extension is an outer arm 3| having one or a lower extremity 32 apertured to neatly accommodate the related shaft extremity where it is retained in position by means of a removable element or cutter 33. Each outer arm desirably extends from the shaft in an upwardly direction and sloping toward a related end of the side frame. An upper extremity of each outer arm presents a jaw 34 opening upwardly of the truck.

Depending from a jaw 8 of the side frame, particularly an inner jaw between each journal box and the bolster opening, is a pair of hinging ears 34a forming desirably downward integral continuations of the jaw to be spaced apart transversely of the truck. This particular disposition of the hinging ears will not interfere with the clear opening into the jaws for the introduction of the journal box shelves therein. Associated with each pair of hinging ears is a rotatable pivot or crank means 35 comprising an intermediate U-shaped clamp which terminates in embossments or bearings 36. The clamp of each crank straddles the hinging ears in lower spacedrelation to the side frame proper so that the bearings overlie in intimate contact the hinging ears. A pivot pin 3l extends through aligned openings in the related embossments and hinging ears to pivotally seicure the crank to the side frame. Cotters 38 or any desirable removable means bisect the pivot pin beyond the limits of the embossments to retain the crank assembled with the pivot pin and side frame. Each embossment, positioned outwardly of the truck, is provided with an outer arm or leg 39 formed integrally with the clamp so as t0 move therewith and is spaced a slight distance outwardly from the side frame. Each outer leg extends in an upward inclined direction toward a related end of the side frame to be disposed at substantially the same inclination as an associated outer arm 3l'. Like the outer arms, each outer leg has an upper extremity thereof formed as a jaw 40. Pivotally connecting or joining related leg and arm jaws through the medium of pins 4| is a connecting link or rod 42 which reflects a motion of the crank of the lever mean-s, That is to say, any pivotal movement of the rotatable means will be reflected immediately in a corresponding movement of the lever means.

Each clamp has a lower or side arm or leg I44 projecting toward a journal box from the center of the clamp and desirably but not necessarily disposed in the vertical longitudinal plane of the side frame characterized in Figure 2 by the diagrammatic line A-A. A free end of a lower leg is cylindrical or more particularly barrel-shaped as at 45 and underlies= the journal box proper so that a .pl-ane passing vertically through the .axis of 'the cylindrical end coincides with a transverse vertical plane :bisecting the axis of the wheel and axle assembly. This relationship is preferred 'because of the tendency, due to slight -clearances between the journal box and :side frame, for the journal box to move horizontally in l:several directions relative to the side frame and, accordingly,

It is believed that a more accurate vertical movement of the side frame will be reiiected by this particular lower leg onda-nd rjournal box rela tionship. It is quite possible that a true and ac curate relative vertical movement between the journal box and side frame will be reflected in the crank and lever means if the 'cjdindrical end is associated with any portion of thejournal box and this latter suggested relationship is to be conn sidered within the scope orf the appended claims.

4In order that the barrel leg end may, throughout all service movements of the tru-ck components, be substantially intimate contact with the journal box, there is provided a clip or U-shaped strap l depending from a iloor of a journal box topre'sent a housing 4l" or enclosure lor a lower leg extremity. A bottom wall of a journal box has secured thereto a wear plat-e 48 while a spring or any resilient means i9 underlies the lower leg extremity and is interlocked with a strap to maintain at all times the lower leg extremity in intimate contact. with a wear plate. The relation of alegcylindrical end with a wear plate and spring pres-ents a pivotal or movable or flexible connec tion between the journal box and rotatable means.

A journal box may be so associated to move transversely of the truck relative to the side frame and, to meet such a contingency, suilcient clearance is provided between extremities 5u of a cylindrical end and a clip to allow a free transverse movement of the journal box without any interference by a crank side leg.

The particular inclination and eiective length of the crank Ylower arm is substantially the same or equal to the downward and outward inclination and effective length of a lever means inner arm. Accordingly, and because of the similarity between a crank outer leg 39 and a lever outer arm, any vertical movement of the side frame relative to a journal box will result in a corre* spending or equal rotary motion of a crank and lever to maintain the brake beam guide member in a xed position relative to a wheel and axlev assembly or journal box. Such vertical relative movement will, in other words, cause a corre sponding or identical relative movement between. the brake beam guide member and side frame to thus compensate for any or all vertical movements between the journal bc-x and side frame.

From the above it will be noted that various changes and alterations can be made to the illustrated and described construction without de'- parting from within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a railway car truck wherein a side frame and journal boxes are arranged for relative vertical movement, the combination oi', a member between said journal boxes and including oppositely directed guideways for supporting sl-idable brake beams, pivot means carried by said side frame and carrying said member, pivot means carried by said side frame and spaced from said first named pivot means, said last named pivot means being movably connected to said journal boxes, and means joining related pivot means.

2'. In a railway car truck wherein a side frame 6, and journal boxes are arranged for relative terd tical movement', the combination of, a .member terminating in opp'ositely disposed guideways for supporting brake beams, Aspaced means pivotal'ly connecting .said member to said side frame, spaced means pivotallyfconnected to said side 'frame and associated 'with 'said .journal boxes, and means pivotally `connecting related spaced In Aa railway car truck 'wherein a side 'frame and journal boxes are arranged for relative vertical movement., the combination of, a member between said journal boxes and comprising oppo sitely direct-ed guideways for housing associated ends of slidable brake beams, lever means carried by said side frame and carrying said member, pivot mea-ns carried by said side frame and spaced from said lever means, said pivot means being connected to said journal boxes, and means con nesting said lever and pivot means. l

4. In a railway car truck wherein a side frame and journal boxes 'are arranged for relative vertical movement, the combination o'f, a member between said journal boxes and com'prisinir oppo sitely directed guideways for accommodating associated ends of 4slidable brake beams, :spaced lever means pivotally secured to said `side frame and carrying said member, spaced pivot means carried by said side frame and spaced toward an end of 'said side frame from said lever means, said pivot means bei-ngrconnected to said journal' boxes, and means pivotally connecting said lever and pivot means.

5. In a .railway car truck wherein a side frame and journal boxes arev arranged for relative ver- If tical movement, the combination of, a member between lsaidjournal boxes and comprising oppositcly directed vguideways arranged to `support ends of associated brake beams, spaced lever means pivotally secured to said side frame and carrying said member, .spaced pivot means carried by saidside 'frame and spaced toward an end of said side frame from said lever means, said pivot means being connected to said journal boxes, and means pivotally connecting said lever and pivot all of said lever and pivot means having arms of substantially equal effective lengths.

6. In a railway car truck wherein a side frame and journal boxes are arranged for relative vertical movement, the combination of, a mom-ber between said journal boxes and comprising -o-ppo sitely directed guideways for carrying associated ends of related brake beams, spaced lever means carrying said member, rotatable means spaced from said lever means, said lever and rotatable ymeans being pivoted to said side frame interme diate their ends., and means joining said lever and rotatable means; said rotatable means being movably connected to said journal boxes.

7. In a railway car truck wherein a side frame and journal boxes are arranged for relative verti-y cal movement, the combination of, a member positioned inwardly of said truck from said side frame and comprising oppositely directed guideways for carrying and directing ends of related brake beams, spaced lever means extending through said side frame and supporting said member, rotatable means spaced from said lever means; each lever and rotatable means being pivoted to said side frame intermediate its ends, and means outwardly of said side frame joining said lever and rotatable means; said rotatable mean-s having portions thereof underlying said journal boxes.

8. In a railway car truck wherein a side frame and journal boxes are arranged for relative vertidal movement, the combination o'f,v a member positioned inwardly of said truck from said side frame and comprising a pair of guideways for the support of brake beams, spaced lever means having portions thereof positioned inwardly of said side frame and connected to said member adjacent extremities thereof, portions of said lever means being positioned outward of said side frame, rotatable means having portions positioned outwardly of said side frame and joined to corresponding portions of said lever means, and said rotatable means having portions underlying said journal boxes; said lever and rotatable means being pivotally secured to said side frame.

9. In a railway car truck wherein a side frame and journal boxes are arranged for relative vertical movement, the combination of, a member disposed inwardly of said truck from said side frame and having, adjacent extremities thereof, guideways for the support of brake beams, spaced lever means extending through and-pivotally secured to said side frame, portions of said lever means being disposed over and connected to said member, other portions ci said lever means being disposed outwardly of said side frame, means carried by said side frame spaced from said lever means, and means outwardly of said side frame joining said other portions of said lever means and first named means; said first named means being slidably connected to said journal boxes.

10. In a railway car truck wherein a side frame and journal boxes are arranged for relative vertical movement, the combination of, a member disposed inwardly of said truck from said side frame and having, adjacent extremities thereof, guideways for the support of brake beams, lugs upstanding from said member adjacent said guideways, a lever adjacent each end of said member and having an intermediate portion pivotally secured to said side frame, a crank spaced from each lever and carried by said side frame, a connecting rod extending between substantially equal arms of a related lever and crank, each lever having means joined to one of said lugs, and each crank having means joined to one of said journal boxes;I said lever and crank means being of substantially equal length.

11. In a railway car truck wherein a side frame and journal boxes are arranged for relative vertical movement, the combination of, a member disposed inwardly of said truck from said side frame and having an intermediate tie terminating in guideways for the support of brake beams, lugs upstanding from said member adjacent said guideways, a lever adjacent each end of said member and having an intermediate portion extending through and pivotally secured to said side frame, a crank spaced from each lever and carried by said side frame, a connecting rod outwardly of said truck extending between substantially equal arms of a related lever and crank, each lever having means movably joined to one ci said lugs, and each crank having means movably joined to one of said journal boxes; said lever and crank means being of substantially equal length.

12. In a railway car truck wherein a side frame and journal boxes are arranged for relative vertical movement, the combination of, a member disposed inwardly of said truck from said side frame and having an intermediatel tie terminating in brake beam supports, upstanding lugs positioned adjacent extremities of said member, a lever adjacent each endof said member and having an intermediate portion pivotally secured to said side frame, a crank spaced from each lever and carried by said side frame, a connecting rod outwardly of said truck extending between equal arms of a related lever and crank, each lever having means positioned inwardly of said truck and joined to one of said lugs, and each crank 'having means joined to one of said journal boxes centrally thereof; said lever and crank means being of equal effective lengths.

13. In an integral brake beam support arranged for movement relative to a side frame, the combination of, an intermediate tie, end portions above and joined to said intermediate tie and dening guideways, said guideways being disposed at an acute angle relative to said intermediate tie, and supporting means upstanding from said end portions.

14. In an integral brake beam support arranged for movement relative to a side frame, the combination of, a lower intermediate tie terminating at both ends thereof in raised end portions, said end portions comprising guideways extending at an acute angle to said lower intermediate tie, and spaced means upstanding from said end portions for carrying said brake beam support.

15. In a railway car truck wherein a side frame and journal box are arranged for relative vertical movement, the combination of, a brake beam extending transversely of said truck, a member arranged to be maintained substantially stationary in a vertical direction relative to said journal box, said member supporting said brake beam so that the latter will throughout its entire range of movement toward and away from said journal box be directed along a straight path fixed with relation to said journal box, and means for supporting said member; said means comprising means pivotally mounted on said side frame and connecting said member to said side frame, means pivotally mounted on said side frame and slidably associated with said journal box, said last named means arranged to be moved about its pivot by said journal box, and means pivotally connecting all of said pivotally mounted means.

16. In a railway car truck wherein a side frame and journal box are arranged for relative vertical movement, the combination of, a brake beam extending transversely of said truck, a member positioned inwardly of said truck from said side frame, said member being arranged to remain substantially vertically stationary relativeto said journal box and to be moved relative to said side frame for the support of said brake beam, means for supporting said member, said means comprising lever means pivotally mounted on said side frame and having an arm thereof positioned inwardly of said truck from said side frame, said arm being connected to said member for the support thereof, and rotatable means pivotally mounted on said side frame in spaced relation to said lever means; said rotatable means having a portion thereof reacting against said journal box to be in sliding contact therewith and another portion thereof pivotally connected to said lever means.

1'?. In a railway car truck wherein a side frame and journal box are arranged for relative vertical movement, the combination of, a brake beam extending transversely of said truck, a member positioned inwardly of said truck from said side frame and arranged to be maintained substantially stationary in a vertical direction relative to said journal box, said member sup- 10 porting said brake beam so that the latter will REFERENCES CITED throughout its entire range of movement toward and away from said journal box be directed along The following references are of record in the a straight path vertically ilxed with relation to le Of this patenti said journal box, and a lever mechanism having a part thereof disposed inwardly of said truck UNITED STATES PATENTS and pivotally connected to said member for the Number Name Date sole support thereof; said lever mechanism be- 893,334 Lindsay July 14, 1908 ing pivotally mounted on said side frame and 2,159,814 McCune May 23, 1939 having another portion thereof bear against said 10 journal box to be in sliding contact therewith.

DONALD S. BARROWS. 

